PetSounds

Coming to school and leaving friends and family behind can be hard. While you can't have your parents move in with you, it's possible to replace or find a new family pet. It's understandable why one might see the occasional student walking a dog through the Arboretum or in Dunn Meadow. And while stopping to pet that dog because it's cute might trigger a desire to go out and get an animal of your own, pets, especially in college, can be a big responsibility.\n Meredith Schock, a sophomore, recently bought a yellow Labrador puppy she named Duncan. In the past months of having the puppy Schock's schedule has changed drastically. Her responsibilities for Duncan include having to wake-up at 8 a.m. every morning to let him out, walking him, cleaning up after him, bringing him to the vet and the arduous task of potty training. \n"The walks aren't really a big deal," Schock says. "It's the potty training that's been a real pain in the ass, but in the end he's worth the trouble." \nSchock and her four roommates, who try to split the amount of work, have decided to take training matters into their own hands instead of paying for a trainer. They are currently teaching Duncan how to behave and how to sit, along with other dog commands. \n"The worst part about it so far has been having to leave him in his cage when we all go to class or go out at night," Schock says. "We feel guilty, but it's also getting him on a schedule and teaching him to sleep while we're gone." \nSchock and her roommates have wanted a dog since freshmen year, and after moving into their house early this school year, they went to Pass Pets in the College Mall to buy a puppy.\nFor some, coming to college can be an opportunity for owning animals they never had. \n"I am just an all around animal lover and have hopes of one day opening an animal shelter, but I have parents that don't share that passion. So I have always been limited in the pet area," says sophomore Heather Ramian, who owns a Maltese named Daisy and a ferret named Angel. \n"Once I was out of my house and out of the dorms, now living in an apartment that allows animals, I got them." \nRamian says her animals can cause some problems.\n"She destroys everything, whether it's the carpet or shoes, or articles of clothing. Somehow she gets a hold of stuff and manages to tear things apart," she says about Daisy.\nAnd pets can cost a lot of money \n"Let's just say my credit cards are red hot," Ramian says. \nBut she still gives them her unconditional love. \n"I love every aspect about her," she says of Daisy. "I love coming home to a very exciting, happy, loving dog. She is still a puppy, so she has tons of energy and she loves to play, which makes for a fun time with her."\nOther students with pets didn't necessarily have the intention of having a companion. Brandy Tolley found her cat Lola abandoned as a kitten at a loading dock at her work. \n"She looked premature and malnourished," Tolley says. "I'm an animal lover so I felt bad. I felt like I had to take her in." \nTolley even had to go against her landlord's rules by keeping the cat a secret before moving into a new, pet friendly apartment. \n"I wasn't supposed to have pets, but I didn't get in any trouble," Tolley says. "I took the chance and it worked out." \nTolley has to feed Lola twice a day and bring her to the vet once a year for shots. Lola, like most cats, doesn't need to be constantly entertained. \n"She's pretty lazy," says Tolley. "But she loves attention." \nWhile Lola makes a good companion, she can also burn a hole in Tolley's pocket. \n"She's a little bit of a financial burden," she says. "I usually spend about $12 to $20 a month on food for her, but that's because I like to buy her the pricier Iams cat food. The price isn't horrible, but it's not that cheap either."\nFor pet owners, finding pet friendly housing can be an inconvenience throughout Bloomington. Most off-campus housing, such as popular places like the Varsity Villas, Hoosier Courts and Smallwood Plaza, do not allow pets. However, pet friendly housing is available in the Bloomington area. College Mall Apartments on East Second Street, allow pets as do Dunnhill Apartments on East 17th Street and Walnut Knolls Apartments on North Walnut Street. Though it is important to contact management as some pet friendly places, like Dunnhill Apartments, only allow cats. \nFor those interested in doing some pet shopping, students can buy pets from a number of places. Pass Pets in the College Mall is a popular pet store as is Delilah's Pet Shop on North College Avenue. \nThose looking to adopt a pet can turn to the City of Bloomington Animal Care and Control. The center allows college students to adopt the animals but hopes to find owners who have experience with animals and can afford to care for them. While the shelter does see the occasional animal return, most adoptions are successful. A 30 day return period exists, but in that time the owner must have brought the animal to the vet within 7 days for check-up shots. \nThe organization also seeks to find the problem before a full return. Often a person will decide to switch for another animal. \n"Owning a pet is a huge commitment," says director Laurie Ringquist. "We really encourage students to plan ahead. Dog and cats can live for 12 to 15 years. Not only do you have to worry about finding pet friendly housing each year, but you also need to think about what to do with your pet over the summer and even life after college."\nWhile cats and dogs may be the most common pets, the shelter also offers many other animals including rabbits, hamsters, iguanas, snakes, chickens and they even recently had a goat. \nPass Pets says, quantity wise, their biggest sellers are fish. Due to the small amount of space they take up and their low maintenance, fish make easy pets. For anyone living in the dorms, fish are the only option. Residential Programs and Services list items prohibited in the dorms "Animals, including birds, laboratory specimens and guest's pets. Fish that are kept in water tanks are permitted as are service animals approved by the residence manager." \nPet owners should also be aware of Bloomington's local pet laws. According to the City of Bloomington; Indiana's Web site, "Dogs must be restrained by a leash/lead when off their property. Failure to do so will result in fines." \nOther laws include making sure animals receive "proper care," "preventing your companion animal from being a public nuisance (including consistent barking, aggression, roaming freely, destroying other people's property and so forth)," and animals prohibited as pets in the Bloomington area include "all native wildlife, hedgehogs and prairie dogs, all crocodilians: alligators, caimans and crocodiles and pythons of any species that can grow more than 12 feet long."\nDespite the restrictions and limitations on having a pet while in college, students still find time and enjoyment with their pets.